The Sports Matrix: Friday 26 August 2011

Extra-time goal saves Newcastle

Newcastle United need an extra-time winner from Sammy Ameobi to overcome Scunthorpe in the second round last night. Chris Dagnall put Scunthorpe ahead, but Ryan Taylor’s 80th-minute free-kick equalised, and Ameobi won it on 112 minutes. MORE

England win after the rain in Dublin

England beat Ireland by 11 runs in the one-day international in Dublin yesterday. England scored 201, thanks to a Jonathan Trott 69. Rain meant Ireland chased a reduced 129 from 23 overs, but Steven Finn and Jade Dernbach helped restrict them to 117. MORE

Team GB backed to succeed in Seoul

British athletics chief Charles van Commenee suggested yesterday that the team at the World Championship in Seoul this month could rival the golden generation of the 1980s. “It’s a possibility,” he said. “We’re not too far off.” MORE

Jones double puts Stoke through

Stoke City moved powerfully through to the group stage last night, thanks to a 4-1 home win over Thun, having already won 1-0 in Switzerland. Matthew Upson and Glenn Whelan scored either side of a double from striker Kenwyne Jones.

Bears in title touch after thumping win

Warwickshire moved within three points of County Championship leaders Lancashire yesterday, as they beat Yorkshire by an innings and 58 runs. Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored 193 before Chris Wright took 5 for 31 as Yorkshire were bowled out for 127. MORE

Wenger moves to bolster midfield

Arsène Wenger has hardened his interest in much-needed recruits for Arsenal’s midfield. He has sought a loan move for Marseilles’ Argentinian international Lucho Gonzalez and Sochaux’s Marvin Martin. He is also interested in Lille’s Yann M’Vila. MORE

Tindall and Tuilagi to pair up in Ireland

England will try the new centre partnership of Mike Tindall and Manu Tuilagi in the World Cup warm-up game against Ireland in Dublin tomorrow. They will not face Irish veteran Brian O’Driscoll, though, who is out with a shoulder injury. MORE

Opinion: James Lawton

If Daniel Levy holds firm and refuses to sell Luka Modric to Chelsea, the Croatian midfielder must show that he has the heart of an exquisitely gifted footballer, by not wallowing in some corner but by continuing to perform. MORE

Villas-Boas: City may be debutants but they can win it

The Chelsea manager, Andre Villas-Boas, said yesterday that Manchester City could win the Champions League at their first attempt. But that was before City were drawn in a tough group with Napoli, Bayern Munich and Villarreal. Villas-Boas described City as “contenders” in a tournament in which they are playing for the first time: “They are Champions League contenders. Why not? They have joined together the best talent in the world this year. “It’s something unbelievable. It shows what they want to achieve, and they have a winning coach as well, a coach who won three titles in a row at Inter,” Villas-Boas said. “I don’t see why they wouldn’t have the drive or the qualities to go all the way through.” MORE

Chelsea’s Pereira signing hits snag

Andre Villas-Boas claims the signing of Uruguayan international left-back Alvaro Pereira from his former club Porto may not happen. “We’re very far apart in terms of numbers and it’ll be very difficult to make it happen,” he said yesterday. “I’m not confident.” MORE

Watkins included despite injury

Leeds have named their 19-year-old centre, Kallum Watkins, in their Challenge Cup final squad, despite a knee injury which gives him only a 50-50 chance of playing. Carl Ablett, himself suffering from an ankle injury, is a better prospect to play. MORE